22-Year-Old Tourist Decapitated By Helicopter Rotor While 'Trying To Take Selfie': Report

A 22-year-old British tourist was decapitated by a spinning helicopter rotor when he reportedly tried to take a selfie after disembarking the aircraft in Greece, reports said.

Jack Fenton was returning from Mykonos in Greece with his three friends in a hired Bell 407 helicopter when the tragedy struck. Fenton was instantly killed after being hit by the still-spinning rear rotors of the helicopter, moments after he got off the aircraft at a helipad in Athens on Monday, The Guardian reported.

A second helicopter that carried Fenton's parents was reportedly diverted to spare them the gruesome view.

As part of the investigation, the aircraft’s pilot and two ground engineers were arrested. "Our inquiry has focused on possible negligence...Basic questions have emerged from witness testimony as to why the blades were not at a standstill when passengers were allowed to disembark on Monday," an investigating officer said.

Meanwhile, Fenton's friend Jack Stanton-Gleaves, who traveled in the same helicopter said they were not given any instructions during their exit and did not know why Fenton turned toward the rear blade.

"No instructions were given when exiting the helicopter and no one escorted us to the lounge. All they did was open the doors for us. We disembarked on our own and no one stopped him from going to the rear of the helicopter," Stanton-Gleaves said, News.com.au reported.

Meanwhile, local media outlets in Greece reported that the accident occurred when Fenton attempted to take a selfie without realizing that the blades were still spinning. However, Stanton-Gleaves rejected the claim and said his friend was not using his phone during the incident.

Giorgos Kalliakmanis, head of the police union in Greece said the pilot will be investigated to determine if he had advised the passengers to get out before the blades stopped spinning.

"These propellers run for about two minutes from the time he turns the engine off unless he presses a button which stops them at 50 seconds. The helicopter door has no security, anyone who wants to open the door and get out. The preliminary investigation will look at whether the pilot informed them to get out when the propeller and engines stopped," Kalliakmanis said, as reported by Sky News.